Latest news with #OgwenValleyMountainRescue
North Wales Chronicle
2 days ago
- General
- North Wales Chronicle
Three Peaks Challenge team help stranded hikers on Snowdon
The Castle Green Homes team, who were preparing for the Three Peaks Challenge to raise funds for Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue, encountered three stranded walkers during their descent. The challenge, set to take place on June 26, will also support Chasing the Stigma and Prostate Cancer UK. Richard Williams, operations director at Castle Green Homes, said: "We'd passed three young women not far from the top and had walked about two and a half miles down when we looked back and couldn't see any torches or anyone coming down after us. "We made a decision as a group to turn back and find them. "They had no torches, one of them had a twisted ankle, they were lost, didn't have any water and didn't know what to do. "We took our time walking them back down and to help make them feel comfortable with us we phoned my wife. "I would be devastated to think something had happened to my daughter and no one helped them. "God knows what would have happened – they could have taken a wrong path over the edge." Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue, one of the challenge's chosen charities, is familiar with such incidents. The team of around 50 unpaid volunteers responded to 178 requests for help last year—almost one every other day. Chris Lloyd, press officer for Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue, said: "We all go out to enjoy the great outdoors not intending to have an accident. "But accidents can happen to anyone. "It is important to reduce the risk of such an incident by proper preparation and knowing what to do in such an event. "First, try and resolve the situation by yourself. "Lost? "Try retracing steps to a known point. "Stuck on steep ground? "Shout, there may be someone close by who can help. "Injured? "Treat using your first aid kit. "The person may well be able to walk off without needing rescue. "However, if out of your comfort zone, dial 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. "The team leader may well be able to locate your mobile telephone and to direct you to the correct path. "It is easier for team members to assist able-bodied casualties rather than let them continue to have an accident and injury." Mr Lloyd also advised on essential preparations for mountain walks. READ MORE: European surgeons visit Ysbyty Gwynedd to learn robotic knee surgery techniques He said: "Check the local weather forecast before you go out, and make sure that you have adequate clothing and spare clothing too, including waterproofs. "Mountain weather can change very quickly. "Know where you're going, make sure you have the right equipment and that the whole party have the right skills. "Being able to navigate is important. "Take a torch – don't use the one on your phone as it uses the battery and then you won't be able to call the rescue out." To support the team's Three Peaks Challenge, visit
Wales Online
15-05-2025
- General
- Wales Online
Climber dies falling from Welsh mountain
Climber dies falling from Welsh mountain Mountain rescuers spent six hours retrieving the casualty from Glyder Fach in Eryri Glyder Fach in Eryri (Image: Ogwen Valley MRT ) A climber has died after falling down a gulley while scrambling up a Welsh mountain. The incident happened on Saturday, May 10, at Glyder Fach in Eryri (Snowdonia). The tragedy happened on a section of the peak, which is the sixth-highest in Wales, described as one of the gullies near Main Cliff. It is a section of rock face popular with scramblers and climbers said to offer routes of various degrees of difficulty. Rescuers retrieved the body during a six-hour difficult operation. In their log, Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue said that the scrambler was seen falling by two mountaineers climbing the cliff face when they saw the person begin a "tumbling fall down a gulley". It reads: "Two mountaineers were climbing on Glyder Fach Main Cliff when they saw a solo scrambler begin a tumbling fall down a gulley. They immediately called 999 and descended to the fallen individual to try and help. The team were called out and Rescue 936 tasked. "One of the informants, an off-duty paramedic, assessed the casualty and reported no signs of life. They stayed with the individual until team members arrived on scene. The helicopter lifted team members up, near the location and the informants were lifted down to base. "Once further casualty and scene assessment was completed the individual was packaged into a stretcher and extracted from the gulley using a TRR system. Article continues below "Once on the boulder field a single back-rope was used to protect the stretcher extraction out to a suitable landing site for the helicopter to lift the casualty and all team members back to base. "Thanks go to the informants for their assistance with a very difficult situation while the thoughts of the team are with the friends and family of the casualty." On their return from the scene, the team helped respond to a crash on the A55 in which a biker was killed. A second statement reads: "Team members witnessed a collision between a vehicle and a motorcycle near Capel Curig and stopped to give help. "The team leader phoned 999 to report it and the team was asked to respond, team members worked with [the Welsh Ambulance Service, North Wales Police and the Air Ambulance] to treat the rider and their passenger. "Sadly, the rider did not survive and the passenger was flown to hospital. Article continues below "The thoughts of all involved are with the families and friends of the casualties." Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here .
BBC News
20-03-2025
- BBC News
Conwy: Man drowned in Storm Bert flood, inquest told
A man drowned in floodwater during Storm Bert while taking his dog for a walk, an inquest has teacher Brian Perry from Caerphilly was found underwater underneath a farm gate on Gower Road in Trefriw, Conwy, on November 24, 2024. The inquest in Ruthin heard the 76-year-old, who had been staying in a cottage in the village with his wife, had taken their border collie for a walk on the afternoon of the previous day. His body was found the next morning. In a statement, his widow Catherine Perry said she had gone out shortly afterwards for a run and noticed water had come up onto the path from the river Conwy, and that a man was wading through phoned Mr Perry at about 16:25 GMT, who said he was heading back to the cottage. Soon after she heard a dog barking and another sound which she said she thought must have been her husband, but it was dark and raining and there was no sign of him. A search for Mr Perry got underway involving the police and Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue, but it was called off at 20:15 GMT that night because conditions had become too dangerous. A police officer found Mr Perry's body the next morning after wading through flood water that was in places five and a half feet (1.67m) deep. A post mortem examination confirmed he had drowned. The senior coroner for north Wales, east and central, John Gittins, said Mr Perry's death was an accident. "Having taken the dog out for a walk, the speed at which the storm and flood water overwhelmed him was something he could not escape from," he said. He added the community of Trefriw "really came together" to help Mrs Perry and her wider family, showing it "very much cared".
BBC News
28-02-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Mountain rescue: volunteers dealing with 'unprecedented' demand
Volunteer mountain rescue crews in north Wales are being stretched to breaking point by increased callouts, police rescue crews said this year has already seen "unprecedented demand", and two deaths in just 10 of 28-year-old Maria Eftimova, who died last weekend, have thanked the mountain rescue crews who tried to save say social media apps – such as TikTok and Instagram – are responsible for greater numbers of people walking in the mountains and on the coast. University student Ms Eftimova, originally from Bulgaria, was an experienced walker who was well equipped, and walking with a fell around 65ft (19.8m) while ascending the north ridge of Tryfan on 22 best friend Megan Griffiths said: "Maria was a one-of-a-kind person who lived life to the fullest - not only adventurous and free-spirited, but also incredibly kind, intelligent, and selfless."We are so thankful to Maria's friends, crew, and the Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue team for their efforts to save her."It was just one of several emergency calls made from the mountains and coast of north Wales over the past fortnight. North Wales Police said the number of calls made to mountain rescue in the past two weekends has been "almost unprecedented," and the popularity of the area on TikTok and Instagram is partly to Superintendent Owain Llewellyn said: "What we're seeing is a dramatic increase in pictures and video of the area appearing on social media, often posted by influencers."Some of the footage they're sharing is absolutely stunning. It really highlights what Eryri has got to offer, but unfortunately some of that footage is taken on a good day when it hasn't rained."Then we see visitors coming here, and on the day they arrive, the weather conditions aren't quite as nice when they get out the car – and they don't always understand that conditions up in the mountains can be even worse." It means the volunteers who make up the mountain rescue crews in north Wales are being called out more year, the Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team alone was called out 320 times, including on Christmas Emma Edwards-Jones is from the Adventure Smart strategy, which is working to improve safety in the said: "a lot of callouts now are what we would term 'avoidable incidents' – if people had a little bit more knowledge and skills, or done a little bit more preparation, they might not have ended up getting into trouble."If you're having to phone 999, it's a voluntary rescue team that's having to come and get you."They want to go and help people who are equally enthusiastic about the outdoors as they are."But there is no doubt that the increased pressure from people who are not prepared is putting an immense strain on them and we also need to remember that these volunteers put themselves in danger to rescue others."
